Room with a view

Long Time No See

2010-07-22T16:35:00.001-04:00

A lot of life has been lived since my last post. Lately I feel like I've finally been coming back around to "me". I think part of me was lost for a little while. I'm still knitting and can't imagine ever not knitting. Our boys are growing and we are so proud of them. I've been making lots of blackberry desserts and canning blackberry jam. Now I've got lots of tomatoes to work up and green beans. Today I dyed my hair with henna. It's lovely, the color should deepen over the next few days. It was a messy process but gave me that little bit of red I needed. I'm hopeful I will get back into the swing of regular blogging but if not that's okay. This blog started out for me, a journal of my life. I would like to get back to putting life's little details down. Until next time.......

What's Consuming Me

2009-12-13T09:46:00.000-05:00

KNITTING.

That's all I want to do. It's what I've been doing in every spare moment and the not so spare moments as well. I'm fitting it in between 7th grade basketball games. That's the other thing I'm doing. Lots of driving these days and in between I knit.

Goodnight Sweet Princess

2009-11-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

Chiquita Renee Asplin

May 12th, 1995-November 5th, 2009

Check Out This Giveaway!

2009-09-29T11:01:00.000-04:00

Okay all you knitters you need to go check out this giveaway over at Knit Purl Girl's Blog. WEBS is giving away a Bamboo interchangeable needle set. Lots of ways to enter more than once. Go check it out!

Cooking with Clara

2009-09-28T23:29:00.000-04:00

I just love this little lady, Great Depression Cooking with Clara on you tube. Thanks Suzanne for introducing me to her show.

Weird Dreams

2009-09-25T08:22:00.001-04:00

I'm kind of known to have bizarre dreams. This morning I woke up having had one.

In the dream it was winter time and I was on my way out to take care of Butter and her pups. As I neared her kennel I could here deer in the woods to my left, I hurried into the kennel and shut the door. Immediately there were deer on the outside of the kennel pushing and shoving wanting food. I was uneasy and turned to find a deer in the kennel with me. I reached out to feed it and it clamped down on my hand. I screamed, "let go you're hurting me", then I woke up.

Weird, huh?

Life, etc, etc, etc

2009-09-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I stopped in here. The summer finally caught up with me and I decided to take a break.

So, much happened over the summer: Camping trips, vacation, the loss of five chickens (including Rooster), the ending of a ten year friendship (a friendship I thought would be lifelong, my head still spins a little about it), a garden that did not do well, my father started bringing produce in from a fellow employee and that has kept me busy for weeks!

And the biggest thing is that I started knitting for money. So, I'm not on here much. I'm sitting over there in the corner knit, knit, knitting. And loving it!

So, I will pop in from time to time, if I have time, and jot down a note or two about life.

The Hives Of July

2009-07-18T09:34:00.000-04:00

Soooo, G broke out in hives Thursday. Out of the blue, completely covered in them.

Hmmm, what brought this on I thought? No new foods, no new soaps or detergents. Hmmm, he wasn't feeling good on Sunday, but no fever and that was four days before.

Dr. said, pretty sure it's viral. And it's quite impressive G. Textbook for severe case. Big, huge smile from G on that one.

These are pictures after I took him to the Dr. and he's been on a steroid and antihistamine for 24 hrs. You should have seen him before that.

If you look closely you will see peanut butter at the corners of his mouth. Usually there is something there. lol

On his ears, eyelids, etc

This looks soooo much better than it did. His belly and chest area was one big red mass yesterday.

The back looks better too believe it or not.

Itchy, itchy.

Looks like some kind of disease, doesn't it?

Chick Update

2009-07-13T11:43:00.000-04:00

The babies have, so far, acclimated well into the flock. All though I would say they are still on the fringe. They come out of the coop into the yard later in the day, never early, and if they have full run of the coop, they are everywhere, checking everything out. However, if the big birds are in the coop they pretty much stay in their safety cage, only coming out after everyone has roosted.

This is where I found them yesterday. All the other chickens were out in the yard. See that one on the far left, yeah, pretty sure that's a roo.

All though, in this picture he sure looks like a Dolly!

Rooster June 2009

2009-06-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

What're you lookin at?

Ummm, these are starting to worry me a little.

Cock of the walk.

On Alert.

Rooster n his girls

Struttin it.

Watch out!

That's right, I'm all that.

Welcome To My Garden 2009 Part 2

2009-06-22T09:05:00.000-04:00

My flowers are doing great this summer.

Purple coneflower-I really want an orange one but haven't shelled out the $10 yet.

Beautiful Hollyhocks

Purple Russian Majesty, maybe?

Not sure what this one is, anybody?

Here it is with sunlight filtering through, beautious.

This one is a dark salmon color.

Beautiful ruffley buttercup type daylily.

Baja Daylily

Aztec daylily?

All of my daylilies came from friends. So, some of them I just have no idea what they are called. I'm sure if I would take the time and research I could find them.

Want To Win A Wii?

2009-06-05T08:55:00.000-04:00

We love our Wii! It's the first time I've been able to play video games without getting sick. LOL
Bowling is one of my favs and now that we have the Wii Fit I enjoy boxing and step aerobics!

If you want to enter for a chance to win a Nintendo Wii system check out this giveaway at Christian Personal Finance.

Happy Birthday Papa!

2009-05-30T22:58:00.000-04:00

Happy 63rd birthday Papa!

For Papa's birthday we took a day trip down to Sikeston, MO. Now it may seem like driving three hours for lunch is a bit extreme but you gotta understand that this is no ordinary restaurant. Lambert's Cafe is the "Home of the throwed rolls", yes that's right they throw the hot, fresh rolls at you! And they walk around offering up fried okra, fried potatoes, sorghum for your rolls, black-eyed peas and macaroni & tomatoes. This is in addition to whatever you may have ordered. I was a little worried about eating here, since my surgery in December, over eating is a not a good idea unless I want to feel like I'm dying for the rest of the day. But I was just extra careful and all was well.

G had to try out the fast car as soon as we got there!

Mmmm, diggin in.

Yes, the food IS this good!

Notice G has his mouthful and so does Papa!

Me n my boys

After lunch we took the scenic route home, going through the Shawnee Forest area and making our way up to Bald Knob.

The view was gorgeous. Notice the welcoming committee in front of the welcome center? Daisy and Athena were quite friendly.

The four of us with Papa

The Cross on Bald Knob has seen better days, in fact, it looks as though it is being torn down. But the website says it's being restored.

Tip #1

2009-05-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

Hey I was reading in my country living magazine, which is free btw, that if you have tomatoes that split on the vine, you should wrap a plastic baggie over them and close it up and it will help save the tomato for you.

If we get as much rain this summer as we did last I will for sure have to try this.

The Mohawk

2009-05-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

G loves to get a summer hair cut. Shave it down Mom, as short as you can. But before that he sports a mohawk for a couple of weeks. This year we let him have it early because he had been growing his hair out for it.

Here he is pre-haircut. He's on the right.

And this is after.

You gotta have a little color for the Memorial Day Parade.

Here's the funniest part about that day. After the parade the In-laws took him to the nursing home to visit and show off his mohawk. Several of the residents commented that he was a scout so he must be a really nice boy. Here he is lookin all punk rock but because he's a scout they totally overlooked the hair.

Rockin it!

A Big Scary Snappin' Turtle

2009-05-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

I looked out the kitchen window last night and noticed we had a visitor.

This fella (or maybe Filly) was pretty good sized.

At this point I'm thinking just how fast can a snappin turtle move?

That's a big ol tail.

The token boy with a snappin turtle shot.

Here's the best part though. We caught him and left him in here for C to see when he got home. Three hours later, C walks in the door and says where's the turtle. It got out and somehow did not turn that big tote over. Crazy!

Lessons on Farm Life

2009-05-27T22:43:00.000-04:00

Recently, I casually mentioned a Spring Surprise. I ended up with a broody hen this spring and decided to give it a go. She's been on five eggs and all was going well. Yesterday chick #1 hatched out and we were all very excited. I had decided not to separate the hen and chicks from the rest of the birds, hoping that the Mama would take care of things. Well, she didn't. I'm not sure if she just felt pulled to sit on the remaining eggs or what but the other chickens got a hold of that chick and well they did what chickens do. When we found her she was quite mangled and barely alive. I was just sick to my stomach about it. What to do now, I asked my chicken mentor and she gave me the details on what had to be done, for the dying chick and the mama and possible other chicks. Sooo, with a sad heart I put the chick out of it's misery and then went about moving things around to make sure the remaining eggs/chicks would be safe.

It was a hard lesson to learn. I guess what I wanted to happen was just not going to work with the nature of chickens. So, now the hen and chicks are in my garage safe and sound.

And here's the good stuff:

Holding pen.

Don'tcha love my nest box.

I think she looks pretty cozy in that shirt box.

Checkin out the food supplies.

Mama Hen and three peeps

See the little peep sticking it's head out. There's actually two of them in this picture. One in front and one in back.

Can you see the peep in this pick. It's like an I Spy Pic.

A Country Livin' Surprise

2009-05-15T21:52:00.000-04:00

This is a spring job our boys "love" to get called on to do, cleaning out the window well. It was G's turn and he was less than thrilled but he went on down there to dig out all the nasty leaves and the toads and the frogs that get down in there.

See he's headin down, no problem.

Then, Oh my goodness what is that? After much discussion he decided to go get his big brother for assistance.

Big brother climbed in and got a box and a rake to pull this guy or girl or whatever out. Can you see it? Here's a better look.

Those are some big ol pinchers on that thing.

Here it is up close and personal. It's huge!

Ha! not really, but it looked really big and scary to G.

This picture is pretty normal around here. P is sitting all calm and G is moving so he's blurry. Hold. Still. For. Just. One. Picture. Please!

This is the crawdaddy rescuer headin out to move Mr. or Mrs. Crawdaddy to a safe location. Well, unless a raccoon finds him or her tonight.

Welcome To My Garden 2009 Part 1

2009-05-12T08:34:00.000-04:00

Dwarf Iris', Shasta Daisy "Snowcap" and behind the sign Siberian Iris'.

Yellow Rose Bushes

started with five to six small starts two years ago.

Beautiful Rose Blossoms

Hmmm, well I thought this was Lamb's Ear growing wild along the edge of the trees. After transplanting it to my flower bed and seeing other lamb's ear around I'm not so sure. Could it be Lamb's Ear Giganticus? lol

This is all reseeded cilantro from a plant I bought last year! Yum, Pico De Gallo!

A lovely gift from a Sis-n-law. A tea cup bird bath.

How gorgeous is this, a ball of blooms on my snowball bush.

Sedum, ground cover-Dragon's Blood?

This is Lemon Balm and every spring and every fall I rip it out with a vengeance and it just. keeps. coming!

One of my fav decorations. Rooster jumping rope. I picked this up at a Big Lots! one year. Every year I go back looking for some more uniqueness only to be disappointed.

Second all time fav, Hula hoopin frog.

First Iris bloom of the 2009 season

Dianthus, this was a dead looking plant at church that I brought home, stuck in the ground and watered. Lovely.

Dianthus bloom

I love daisies, they're so friendly, dontcha think that daisies are the friendliest flower. (name that movie!)

Mouse Ear Coreopsis bloom

Flowering Chives, mmmm.

Alum Blooms

Playing Catch Up

2009-05-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

Boy we sure have been busy around here. Once the rain left we got busy on all the outdoor stuff.

Garden bed #1 ready, check.

Flower beds weeded and flowers moved, checked.

Two new veggie patches tilled and amended, check.

Laundry on the line, check.

Spring here in all it's green and flowering goodness, check!

Chickens happy and growing, check.

A lovely Mother's Day gift, check.

A spring surprise, check.

Sheldon In All His Glory

2009-04-23T18:35:00.001-04:00

Sheldon is done! I loved making him and lots of love went into the knitting of him and all his costumes for lil G. Take a look back to see him in all his stages.

Sheldon the Chicken

Superhero w/cape

Superhero shield waiting for name to be stitched on.

Beach bum turtle w/life preserver shell and beach shorts.

A very happy Lil G!

Menu Monday 4/13 -- A Day Late

2009-04-14T18:39:00.000-04:00

Sorry I missed last week, I was sick and then with the boys being off for spring break, yesterday came and went sooooo, better late than never.

Monday--Shrimp Scampi Pasta, salad and bread

Tuesday-- Biscuits n Gravy

Wednesday-- Pork Chops Fake n bake style, baked apples and green beans

Thursday-- Leftovers

Friday-- Homemade Pizza

Saturday-- Out of Town--eating out

Sunday-- Frittata

Seed Swap Excitement

2009-03-28T08:07:00.003-04:00

How excited do you think I was when I opened my mail box and saw this big fat envelope?

To be honest at first I thought it was yarn, because that would just be super great if someone sent me a big bag of yarn(FYI, I prefer natural fibers. ;0p). But then I realized it was from the seed swap Howling Hill started. And I was just as excited about the seeds as I was when I thought it was yarn(are you getting the idea that I have a thing for yarn?) I signed up last year but the seeds never made it to me. This year though everybody was able to take and give and send it on and now it's my turn.

Jenna Z. over at Corgipants sent them to me, funny thing I forgot to mention to Jenna Z. I use to live in her neck of the woods. Kind of ironic isn't it.

I chose these veggies and flowers:

Watermelon-Moon & Stars, Chelsea and Sugar Babies

Squash-Gold Nugget
White Tipped Scarlet Radish

Eggplant-Long Purple

Sweet Fennel

Cucumber-Marketer

Pumpkin- Rouge d'etamps and Blue Moon
Peppers-Pretty In Purple

White Cleome

Swamp Milkweed

False Indigo

Larkspur (Pink)

Yellow 4 O'Clocks

And I put these seeds in:

Veggies:

Rhubarb

Tomatoes-Black Krim and Amish Paste

Parisian Pickling Cucumber

Heat Tolerant Lettuce

NuMex Big Jim Chili Peppers

Green Culinary Sage

Grandma Eink's Dill

Flowers:

Tall Blue Larkspur

Bee Balm

Gian Imperial Larkspur

Black Hollyhocks

Sunflowers-dwarf mix

Red Columbine

Giant White Moonflower

Cabbage Leaf Poppies

Rose of Sharon

I'm mailing them off to Melissa @ Melissa's Ramblings.

Knitting News

2009-03-27T12:46:00.000-04:00

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting........ Pretty much if I'm sitting still somewhere I've been knitting lately. I'm still working on this and today I posted here on the many items that go along with him. As well as, a pair of socks thrown in there for good measure. Cause ya know I can't just do one thing at a time.

Sheldon is not done. In addition to the animal costumes there are a couple of "career" costumes I have to knit yet and I've been toying, ha get it, with the idea of a couple more outfits. Of course I don't have patterns for those outfits so we will see if it happens. If not now maybe later on after I figure out how to make them.

Menu Monday 3/23

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here it is again:

Monday 3/23: Leftovers from weekend

Tuesday 3/24: Superfast Salisbury Steak and Boston Market Dill Potato Wedges

Wednesday 3/25: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Thursday 3/26: Family Style Shrimp Scampi and Oven Roasted Veggies

Friday 3/27: Homemade Pizza

Saturday 3/28: Sesame Chicken Fingers w/ Peanut Sauce and Sesame Garlic Broccoli

Sunday 3/29: Leftovers

Recipe I

2009-03-17T08:24:00.001-04:00

Here's the recipes for Runsas, this is a fav at our house, frugalmom's too!

Runsas (Beef and Cabbage Buns w/ cheese)
( Cook's Country Mag. Apr/May 2007 )

Note: Don't overcook the cabbage--you want it to provide some crunch when you bite into the sandwich.

Dough:

3/4 c. warm water (110 degrees)
1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
1/4 c. veggie oil
2 Tbls. sugar
1 lg. egg
3 1/2 c. all purp flour, plus extra for rolling out dough
2 pks instant or rapid rise yeast
1 tsp salt

Filling:

3 Tbls unsalted butter, 2 Tbls melted
1 1/2 lbs. 90% lean ground beef
1 lg onion, chopped fine
1/2 sm head cabbage, chopped(about 3 cups)
salt and pepper
8 slices deli American cheese (now some would say this is "cheese food", not real cheese and I would agree, but do not skip this or replace it. The creamyness it provides is soooo worth it.)

1. For the dough: lightly grease lg bowl w/cooking spray. Mix water, sweetened condensed milk, oil, sugar, and egg in lg measuring cup. Mix flour, yeast, and salt in bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook. With mixer on low, add water mixture. After dough comes together, increase speed to medium and mix until shiny and smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn dough out onto heavily floured work surface, shape into ball, and place in greased bowl. (Mixing can also be done by hand)
Cover bowl w/plastic wrap and let rest in warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

2. For the filling: Melt 1 Tbls. butter in lg skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes, breaking up any lg clumps. Using slotted spoon, transfer beef to paper towel-lined plate.

3. Pour off all but 2 Tbls. fat from pan. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add cabbage and toss until just beginning to wilt, 2 to 4 minutes. Return beef to pan and season with salt and pepper.

4. To assemble and bake: Adjust oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Working on lightly floured work surface, roll each piece of dough into 7-inch circle. Place one dough round in deep cereal bowl and top with one slice of cheese. Spoon 3/4 cup filling over cheese and pinch edges of dough together to form bun. Transfer bun, seam side down, to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, cheese and filling, placing 4 buns on each baking sheet. Cover buns with plastic wrap and let rise until puffed, about 20 minutes.

5. Bake buns until golden brown, about 20 minutes, switching and rotating positions of baking sheets halfway through baking time. Brush buns with melted butter and serve.

*I think frugalmom told me these freeze well, ours never last long enough to get frozen. ;0)

Menu Monday 3/16

2009-03-16T09:56:00.000-04:00

Well, since my blogging has been lean I thought I would start posting my menu for the week. We shall see if it lasts. If something sounds good and you want the recipe let me know.

Monday 3/16: Crispy Pan Fried Pork Chops w/ Beer Braised Cabbage

Tuesday 3/17: Egg Sandwiches and Hashbrown Casserole

Wednesday 3/18: Three Meat Calzones and Salad

Thursday 3/19: Sausage Asparagus Skillet and Salad

Friday 3/20: Homemade Pizza

Saturday 3/21: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn & Green Beans

Sunday 3/22: Runsas and Broccoli Casserole

A Surprise or not

2009-03-04T08:42:00.000-05:00

I mentioned a project I would be working on a few posts back. Here is the finished product.

After talking to frugalmom, I'm quite sure lil G will not be surprised as it seems he's mentioned several times that I'm knitting him a turtle. But I'm sure he will be pleased anyway, now his mother may not be as pleased. Getting that lil turtle out of his shell and into his other costumes is a bit finicky. But well worth the hours of playtime in my humble opinion.

Sheldon in progress(this is the pattern name, it is my understanding he will be called Franklin)

Naked Turtle!

Finished turtle in the sun.

I'm good at finding things

2009-02-17T09:35:00.001-05:00

I'm known around these here parts as "the finder". Lost something, call Mim, within a short period of time I will find what is missing. I'm an observant person. I notice things, little things that other people may overlook. So, when I read this, I bout peed my pants laughing. I live with three males, most of the time they can't find anything.

Now I know why, it's my uterus!

Happy 8th Birthday G

2009-02-16T19:12:00.001-05:00

My "baby" turned 8 this last week. I can hardly believe it's been 8 years already. He really wanted to have his party at a gym where they ~~screw you~~ throw birthday parties for children.

He decided mid week that he would like to have a football cake. That brown smudge is, absolutely not a place I dropped icing, it's a spot where a football players cleat ripped the turf.

The birthday boy getting ready to run.

This is how most of the pics turned out that I took. Blurred! Either from the constant motions of the kids or from my lack of camera skills.

Here are quite a few of the kids "stuck" in the foam block pit.

Fun was had by all. Even a Daddy had some fun!

Mrs. Stripes

2009-02-12T15:55:00.002-05:00

Isn't she lovely. A friend of mine realllyyyy wants chickens of her own and it will be a while before she gets them. Sooo, I knit her one.

Monsters and such

2009-02-06T09:26:00.000-05:00

Go check out what I've been up to lately.

Snow Days

2009-01-28T10:56:00.000-05:00

Monday night we started getting snow. Yesterday morning they cancelled school. We had maybe three inches but the forecast was for more and "wintry mix".

Snow Dog

We woke to this. They cancelled school last night about 9PM.

Sooo, this is today. It's beautiful and blinding. We were going to go sledding at the Reservoir but we couldn't make it out of the driveway. Once we hit the snow covered rock lane we were stuck. It took us 10 minutes to get unstuck and back to the garage. So, the boys are playing in the yard and on the hill.

This and That

2009-01-20T21:36:00.000-05:00

Not much to write about these days. The whole "done with winter" attitude has taken hold of me. Not my boys though, they have been praying for a big snow. They want to go sledding and we need a big snow for that to happen.

I did post here the other day A Confession of Sorts

I've also started purging and organizing the upstairs. Today was my closet and tomorrow I'll finish it and move on to the Master Bedroom.

Wish me luck, if you don't here from me for a few days send a rescue team. LOL

I Am Second

2009-01-17T00:00:00.002-05:00

Some friends of ours past this link onto us. I sat mesmerized listening to their stories. Check it out.

I Am Second

The Shack Giveaway

2009-01-16T07:39:00.000-05:00

So, I finally made it through this book, not because it was a difficult read but just because of timing. I received it from Suzanne right around the Holidays and it sat there waiting for me until things slowed down enough for me to get to it.

This book made me cry and laugh. But it also made me ponder some ideas I hadn't really thought about before. It gave me a better understanding of God's love, mercy and grace. Whoever wins this book will be blessed by it I'm sure.

Suzanne's idea was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Shack. So, if you are interested in this endeavor please leave a comment on this post. If you blog about this giveaway let me know that too in the comments and you'll gain an extra chance to win. I will be drawing the winner on Tuesday January 20th @ 9PM.

Eggs, Chickens And Butter

2009-01-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

Hmm, the title of this post could be some kind of recipe. But it's not.

This site makes me happy everyday. Even if it's dark and gray.

This was a total surprise. The egg wasn't huge or really even largish. But I cracked it open and out popped a double.

He is just so handsome and shiny.

Some of the girls outside for some scratch. Hmmm, what's that over there on the left?

A closer look, I notice this occasionally on different girls. Hmmm, I think someones been taking a ride?

Here's the Butter part of this post. Here she is in sit and stay mode, trying really hard to stay.

And this is what happens when she's in sit and stay and I squat down to try to take a picture at a different angle.

And this is her trying to give me and the camera a great big kiss. This picture is sooo Scooby- Doo to me

Coop Improvement

2009-01-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

I saw this grit/shell dispenser over at Farm Mom's blog a while back. That girl is always inspiring me with her ideas. I had C take a look and he said no problem. He had it together in no time and installed it right away. It works great and no more spilled grit or shell.

This Was A Challenge!

2009-01-07T09:29:00.000-05:00

Farm Mom over at Children In The Corn has issued a challenge

Challenge: 4th picture folder, 4th picture

So, here's mine:

Mmmm, homemade applesauce. Something to look forward to next fall. All of these jars are empty now. I have lots in the freezer though. This fall I will check out the local orchard that I didn't' know about last fall. And hopefully I will have lots and lots of this on my pantry shelves.

Feel free to play along.

A trip to the big city

2009-01-02T20:54:00.001-05:00

Today we ventured out of our comfort zone to the big city to the west of us. It takes a little under two hours to get to the big city and it takes just about forever to decide where to eat. LOL Since my surgery eating out has been an adventure. Finding things I can eat and enjoy has been a little difficult. Soup is a definite standby right now but I'm finding as long as I'm careful, eating small bites, chewing really well and slowly I can start adding things to my menu choices. We were looking for someplace that served soup or pasta and thirty minutes after we had reached our destination finally found an Olive Garden. Thank goodness for GPS.

There are lots of things to do there but we were just there to take care of some Christmas gift returns and exchanges. The biggest and most exciting part of our trip for all the men was to go to Cabela's. We stopped in at the Aeropostale store and exchanged a shirt for P, then it was off to Cabela's. I made it 30 minutes before I abandoned them for better shopping. I hit the Marshall's and found and purchased these. I've been looking for something like this to show off my hand knit socks. I got them for $25, originally $110, what a deal. We were also in search of a game for G. He's been on the "hunt" for this game since before Christmas. We finally found it at a Gamestop, twenty five minutes from our house. It was a good day, a little crazy with all the people, but still a good day spent with my men.

Happy New Year! 2009

2009-01-01T14:17:00.000-05:00

Wow, a lot happened in 2008.

I'm looking forward to 2009. Lots of goals:

Finish our basement (by finishing it I mean actually starting the work so it's usable for family life) this will include: family room, bathroom, bedroom, storage room, utility room and the best thing a craft room for me.
Purge and Organize the upstairs
Continue with Piano lessons
Start exercising regularly
Two vacations: One will be the annual family trip up north the other will be just the four of us some place interesting.
Plan and execute a much larger vegetable garden
Set up a shop on Etsy and start selling my creations.

These are a few things, I may add to this list as inspiration and needs arise.

What Christmas is really about......

2008-12-24T09:55:00.001-05:00

Cookie Baking

2008-12-23T16:29:00.001-05:00

Today was the first day of Christmas break, soooo, we baked cookies. Peanut Butter Hershey Kisses Cookies, Rolo Cookies, and My Love Cookies (that's what my boys call them because the secret ingredient is love). We had plans to do sugar cookies and butter toffee cookies but maybe tomorrow instead. Perhaps tomorrow I will show you pictures of all the cookies, but not tonight because I am lazy and tired.

What to do with all these eggs......

2008-12-22T23:43:00.002-05:00

So, we are getting a lot of eggs. Every other day is an eight egg day with the days in between providing 3-4 eggs. They are still on the small to medium size but for a family of four it's a lot of eggs. I'm giving my Aunt a dozen whenever she needs them, she's teaching me how to play the piano (we both think we are getting the better end of the deal, LOL). Once they pickup in size I have a friend at the library who is anxiously waiting to buy some.

In the meantime, I've got to figure out what to do with all these eggs.

Last night I made a spinach, bacon and potato frittata and it was enjoyed by everyone but G (he's seven, okay almost eight and still pretty picky). Tomorrow will be a cookie baking day, I'm quite sure I'll use up several for that.

I requested a few egg cookbooks from my library. Hopefully I will be inspired!

Maybe this will help.

Happy Birthday Farm Mom

2008-12-20T17:12:00.001-05:00

Today is Farm Mom's birthday.

Everybody go wish her a Happy, Happy Day at Children in the Corn

A double yolk

2008-12-19T20:12:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the glare. This egg was our first "bigger" egg and when I cracked it open there were two little yolks in there. No Danni, I didn't weigh it. Mainly because I don't have a scale here at home to do so. I'm waiting until after Christmas, just in case someone got the hint that I wanted a scale. ;0)

They Are Beautiful

2008-12-11T12:07:00.000-05:00

Pick me, Pick me, Pick me

2008-12-10T07:08:00.000-05:00

Wow, I left a comment and actually got picked for something. I've been reading blogs since 2005 and this is the first time I've gotten picked for something.

Suzanne's blog: At Home with the Farmer's Wife posted about The Shack. Lots of people around me have been mentioning this book so I thought why not and lo and behold she picked my name. Woot! Woot! I'm totally surprised and excited.

Soooo, stay tuned. I'll let you know when I get it and what I think when I read it then I'll have a post offering it to one of you!

These Boots Were Made For Muckin'

2008-12-09T12:40:00.002-05:00

Here ya go Lisa ~

These are the boots I wear the most right now. When it's really moist.

In the sun.

My trusty closed toe crocs, this is what I use in the dryer times.

These are my fav. I lurve orange! I only use these in the summer for a quick trip out to the coop.

*and yes those are comfy house pants. ;0)

A Dozen or So

2008-12-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

Well, it actually was a Baker's dozen but I had two eggs for breakfast. ;0)

This is interesting, huh? I've named it the bellybutton egg.

Recovery

2008-12-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

Let me tell ya, it's tough recovering from surgery. I'm tired all. the. time. I walked out to the chicken coop this morning which helped my mood but left me sweaty and exhausted. All in all I'm doing really well. I can't eat much so I'm guessing over the next month I will lose some of this extra weight. ;0) That's something to look forward to. This surgery is very similar to some one getting their stomach stapled. So, I can eat a tablespoon or two at a time. Then I'm stuffed and have to wait a couple of hours to eat again. I'm eating like 6 to 8 times a day. But I'm eating an 1/8 to 1/16 of what I ate before.

I've learned a couple of things so far about myself: 1. I have a really hard time waking from anesthesia, when I had my appy 6 years ago, I don't remember having such a difficult time, but I wasn't under as long either. 2. Me and narcotics don't mix, I knew I didn't like codeine and always refuse it when offered by the Dr. but now I know vicodin isn't good either, and morphine makes me want to scratch my face off. So, they gave me ultram which I guess is just a step up from Tylenol but sure did the trick for me. No crazy completely relaxed body and hyperactive brain, no crazy hallucinations, no crazy psychotic dreams. Just pain relief and sleep.

I've also learned how much I show affection towards my boys and how difficult it is to do that right now. I guess I hug them A LOT! Because I can't do that very easily right now and they keep trying. LOL K, I'm off to rest, maybe knit a little and catch up on t.v. Cause I can't do much else.

Slow but sure

2008-12-04T17:38:00.001-05:00

The eggs are coming in slow but sure. First egg on Saturday, then nothing until Tuesday-one egg. Wednesday-one egg. But today we got two eggs. This morning I heard them doing the egg cheer. Brawk, brawk, brawk, BEGAWK! Then when the boys got home from school there was another egg. I'm sooooo excited.

Health wise, I'm doing fine, slow but sure as well. ;0) I'm still sore in my shoulders, I'm told it's from the carbon dioxide they pump you up with. So, I'm dealing with that. I can only eat a little at a time, all soft foods. And I tire very easily. So, lots of napping. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my usual side position.

Surgical Update

2008-12-03T20:13:00.000-05:00

I'm home, I'm sore and I'm tired. But everything seems to have gone fine. Will post again when I'm up to it. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

~Mim

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2008-12-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

Time to put the trees up. Yes, I said trees, plural. Just two this year. I have three. ;0)

We don't do real trees here, two reasons: 1. The first year we were married we went out to get a tree, it was cold but a pretty winter afternoon, with in the hour it took to pick out a tree, an ice storm hit. It wasn't pretty and it took nearly a week to get that tree defrosted! 2. We have extended family members that have pine allergies.

Anywho, this is our annual tradition, Christmas music on (no Christmas shows, too distracting) and Santa hats. And it begins:

This is what we call "fluffing" the branches.

This is the tree master, he reigns supreme on putting the tree together.

G says there is no reason to stand up to fluff the branch, he can do it perfectly well in the reclined position.

Our boys are such posers.

The finished product. We go for the wherever they want to put the ornaments look. Oh, see that tree skirt, I made that the first year we were married, it's reversible. This side looks quilted the other side is a snow scene.

This is my tree, it's in the dining room. I put it together and all my ornaments from friends and loved ones go on it.

*FYI, I am not posting this from my hospital bed, it's a make ahead post. ;0)

Keep me in your thoughts tomorrow

2008-12-01T17:23:00.001-05:00

A few posts back I mentioned surgery. Well, it's tomorrow. I'm having a fundoplication done. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days.

So Eggciting!

2008-11-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Today was a day of firsts. We culled two roosters (we actually means my DH) I helped once the birds looked like meat. That took quite a bit of time since this was our first time. C said he would just as soon work overtime and pay for natural free range all ready processed birds. So, he's definitely not sold on us doing it ourselves yet. We also took care of Yolkie, he was also a roo and had lots of issues, so he has now went on to the great Hen house in the sky.

Let's see that's two new things, what was the other thing, hmmm, OH YEAH! Now I remember I found our first egg!!!!!!!!! Our Buff's will be 17 weeks on Monday and already an egg. I am soooo Eggcited!

Here it is right where I found it. It took great restraint to not pick it up right away. (I had to run back to the house and get my camera)

Hmmm, could this be the girl who laid it?

Chicken secrets!

Egg on a bed of greens

Our first tiny egg vs. store eggs

Egg in a milk cap

Egg house

Egg on a piano

Egg in a yarn nest(this is my fav)

Ahhh, don't do it!

Egg vs Baseball

4x4 Egg

Mini truck Egg

A precious jewel, for sure.

The Great Hunters *warning pictures of a dead deer

2008-11-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

My guys have been talking about deer hunting all year. P turned twelve this year and I guess with all the testosterone swimming in his veins he really wanted to hunt. So, they have been scouting for weeks on our property. They set up a blind and would go down in the wee hours of the AM and sit and freeze and watch for deer. Most days they would come up and say they saw a couple. I would say, Oh yeah, well I saw four or six or eight right out the kitchen window depending on the day. Soooo, off to the local farm store and ninety bucks later, we have a deer stand in our front yard. Yes, you read that right, FRONT YARD. Our property sits off the road and is surrounded by trees. You can't see our house from the road. We are pretty secluded.

Friday morning they were up dark and early and out to the the stand they went. At about seven AM I was helping G get ready for school and we were keeping an eye on the hunters from the dining room and kitchen windows. G had walked away for a minute and I walked to the sink to do something looked up and saw a Mama doe and a yearling, called G in to have a look and about then, BANG! P had shot at a felted buck or possibly a Duck (doe with antlers) and missed. Then the deer ran of course. But the shot flushed out another group of them from the west and DH shot the buck you see in the pics.

Talk about one excited and yet at the same time disappointed boy. It was his first time and he rushed the shot. Now he knows for next time. He was right in there with his Dad though, my soft hearted boy helped field dress, skin and butcher that deer without blinking.

G was so happy that it happened before he got on the bus. DH was happy it happened the first day, he hates the cold and P was wishing we had more than one deer permit. Maybe next year.

Two happy guys!

How did this boy turn into a young man?

A few more years G and it's your turn.

Too Many Roos

2008-11-25T08:20:00.002-05:00

Roo #1- Rooster, the main man, numero uno. Isn't he handsome.

Roo #2- Pat, mean, frustrated, dinner soon. ;0)

Roo #3- No name, not mean or aggressive yet, still will be in my freezer soon.

Roo #4- Yolkie, issues, issues, issues. Not staying in this world much longer, but not dinner.

FYI-I only ordered one roo and there was one marked with a blue head when they came. That would be Rooster. All the others were OOPS! by the hatchery. I used Cackle Hatchery out of Missouri.

So, after the Holiday weekend we will be down to 12 birds, 1 Roo and 11 Hens.

My First Award!

2008-11-20T20:29:00.000-05:00

This was bestowed upon me by Angie over at Children in the Corn. Thanks so much! I'm soooo excited that I got an award.

Adventures in Chicken Farming Part 1

2008-11-18T16:02:00.001-05:00

Everyday with these chickens is a learning experience. I was just talking to my chicken mentor about how the cross beaked, crooked leg chicken was doing fine. Nobody has been bothering her, just yesterday we had this conversation. Then today I go out and she's got a bloody comb. OH NO! So, I chatted with my own personal chicken ER hotline and she walked me through it and warned me of the upcoming decisions I might have to make concerning "Yolkie". I went and cleaned her up, applied some antibac ointment, while I was doing this I had the rest of the flock in the tractor. *This is where it goes a little awry. I needed to go to town and didn't want to leave them in the tractor so, I started shooing them into the coop. Some of the girls weren't cooperating and then suddenly one flew the coop, I mean tractor. And when she hit the ground she high tailed it towards the woods. This was not good, not good at all. There are foxes in there and skunks and owls and hawks and all sorts of animals who wouldn't mind at all if they happen to have chicken for breakfast. So, I ran up to the house to get boots, a hat and gloves and the butterfly nets (It was about 27 degrees this morning and no the nets weren't for butterflies). On my way I was thinking "no way am I taking my shirt off this morning to get this bird" (I learned my lesson last time). So, I got back chased her back into the yard. A few scratches, from the briar's, two broken nets and one winded lady later, I got that bird and put her back in the coop.

So, what's next? I mean really, I could use a break here God!

Advice on chicken wrangling

2008-11-07T13:54:00.001-05:00

I have now been a chicken farmer for three plus months. Here's what I've learned so far.

Chickens are unpredictable. They zig when you think they are going to zag.
No matter how many people tell you how easy it will be, expect some difficulties.
Chickens are fun to watch. They can entertain you for hours.
Chickens poop A LOT!
When you decide to let your flock free range, I mean really free range, expect some difficulty in getting them back into the coop. If you are by yourself you may end up chasing a chicken around for half an hour or more because she simply doesn't understand English. She can't get it in her super small brain that she could go up that ramp into the coop. After using a broom and other objects to try to "gently" guide her up the ramp you may resort to removing your shirt in an effort to scoop her up in it. DO NOT DO THIS. It will not work and you may or may not be spotted by a neighbor! (Thank God we live 700 feet off the road with trees all around us)

Is she a he?

2008-10-28T21:10:00.001-05:00

What say ye?

Finally... a chicken post

2008-10-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

He's so handsome!

This is Yolkie, with her leg pulled up. Yesterday morning I noticed she was limping.

She won't put any weight on it. Any ideas? I've looked at it and it seems fine.

A chicken video for your enjoyment.

Win a quilt

2008-10-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

One of my readers brought to my attention a quilt giveaway over at Pigtails and Snails. Go check it out!

Chicken Tractor Success

2008-10-15T16:05:00.001-04:00

So, I've been totally struggling with getting my flock to go into the chicken tractor. I have fifteen birds and up until two days ago I could only get about eight of them out there at a time. I was chatting with frugalmom about it. She was asking me all sorts of questions about my behavior with the chickens and she wisely said "get out there and make them get in it", or something like that. That spurred me on to try to figure a way to get them to go out without too much stress. I've noticed recently that they have been very excited when I bring their food in, like they might just eat my hand while their at it excited. Sooo, it dawned on me that maybe if I put their food in there they would go out. And sure enough that worked for all but a couple and they were easily shoo'd out. Day two has come and gone and it's working. I will try to get a picture of them when it stops raining. I am amazed at how different the two spots look where they were. Mowed Down! I am relieved that they are finally "free ranging"! Thanks frugalmom for the nudge. ;0)

2 Busy 2 blog!

2008-10-13T21:33:00.000-04:00

Seems like just yesterday I told someone I would be posting about the chickens and three weeks later here I am, no chicken post. So sad! I've been busy! Soccer, Scouting, Christian Women's Conference, Illness, House guests, Consultation with a surgeon and now on the horizon is a birthday party for our newest nephew and our #1 son.

Boo will be 1 and #1 son will be *gasp, 12. How did that happen? It seems like just yesterday I was holding his tiny body in my arms. Now he's almost as tall as me(really not saying much, I'm a shorty) But he's counting down the days til 12, he gets to set up front in the van(or so he thinks). He's checking at least every other day to see if he's grown. Slow down I say, it goes by so fast! Just yesterday I was pushing you in a stroller, just yesterday I was teaching you to tie your shoes, just yesterday I kissed your boo-boo's, just yesterday you held my hand to walk into the store, just yesterday you cozied and cuddled with me, oh what will tomorrow bring? Serious talks, razors and hair gel? Girlfriends and cars? Heartbreaks and scars. Lord please protect him as he grows, please protect my heart.

It's A Big Scary World Out There!

2008-09-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

The chickens got to go outside today because this finally was finished. What you can't see it, darn camo! It's our chicken tractor and hopefully this will allow my lovely flock to "free range" in safety.

What in the world does she expect us to do? I am not going out first, who knows what's waiting for us out there!

Oh, move out of my way! I'll go first. K, I don't see anything out here that wants to eat me. Come on out girls I think it's safe.

Hey, everyone there's food out here!

Mmmm, yummy! Tomatoes and feed. Oh my, look at all this glorious green stuff and dirt! Are we in heaven?

We are in Heaven!

Look at us! Hey, where's everyone else?

Hey girls, what's going on? We're too scared to go outside. Well, you don't know what your missing. Maybe we'll go out later. I don't know, you all look like a bunch of scaredy cats to me. CATS! Are you crazy woman, we are not going out there with cats! Silly chickens.

Rooster!

2008-09-14T19:00:00.000-04:00

His name is Rooster said in a Carol Burnett voice yelling at her brother in the movie "Annie".

Moving Day

2008-09-11T17:57:00.000-04:00

Moving day has arrived. We moved the chickens to the coop this week. They seem to be loving the space and seem to be enjoying my visits more. Maybe because I'm more on their level? We have a security system in place, i.e. the baby monitor. My husband thinks it's hilarious that I put the baby monitor out there. I said, "Well I want to listen to them and this way if something gets in we'll here about it".

Family Reunion

2008-09-10T20:13:00.001-04:00

This last weekend we went to Wisconsin for a reunion on my FIL's side. My family, my In-laws and two sets of Uncles and Aunts stayed at a B & B there. That was great!

We visited and met family. We actually met some family on our way up at a rest area! Our license plate has our last name on it and they noticed and stopped to say hi.

We went for a hike next to the river. The boys loved that!

We ate at an A & W root beer restaurant. The boys really loved that!

We also visited the world's largest talking cow! That was odd!

The B&B was a beautiful home, the breakfast was yummy and the owners were super friendly and accommodating. On the morning we were leaving the boys were playing outside and G stole P's shoe. He was running backwards away from P, taunting him and fell in the fountain!! He was crying and freezing, it was 47 degrees that morning. We got him stripped, dried off and re clothed right away. What a memory he will have of our trip!

Also, on this trip my husband's Grandfather was presented with an honor stone. The High Ground is an amazing place. If you are ever up that way make a point of stopping to visit.

Rooster?

2008-09-04T14:47:00.000-04:00

So, when I talk to "Rooster" I hear Carol Burnett screaming at her brother in the movie, Annie. But some have said that it's not allowed to name your rooster, well Rooster. And both of my boys have been hounding me about naming him something else. G wants to name him 'Lil Man and P wants to name him Rocky the Rooster(from the movie Chicken Run). So, dear readers give me your two cents worth.

I'm shopping!

2008-09-04T14:38:00.001-04:00

I'm shopping for a new washer and dryer. Everybody chime and tell me what you like about yours or which one's you've been eyeing!

A visit from a friend

2008-08-28T15:56:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day! A friend of mine came to visit. This friend and I usually get together about every five weeks. Much less than I would like but she has a life, I have a life, you get the idea. She said she was coming to visit me but, I'm pretty sure she really came for the chickens. Here's the evidence:

Here chick, chick!

Here girls, come eat the yummy chick feed.

Rooster, would you like to come up in my hand?

Doubling her odds.

Have you guessed who this friend is?

It's frugalmom. This was her favorite chick. She's the most friendly and calm of the bunch. Look at how happy she is, I mean frugalmom. She needs some birds of her own and some llamas and maybe a goat and a few donkeys. Yeah, that sounds good to me.

While frugalmom was here she taught all the good girls and boy how to be bad. She is a bad influence!

Do they ever grow up?

2008-08-26T08:44:00.000-04:00

So, my last post was about my boys this one is about my DH. He loves riding as much as the boys. Here he is showing the boys how it's done.

Raising Boys

2008-08-20T08:17:00.001-04:00

Hmmm, I'm not sure what the right way is to raise boys. I know it's hard to let them do all that boy stuff without feeling nervous, without saying "be careful". Without worry. But you get the worry whether you have boys or girls. Just different worry. My boys make me proud. They "usually" make the right choice, they are boys so sometimes the boy-ness gets the better of them. My husband says it's important to let them do all that "stuff" that gives me more gray hair. It helps them become self confident men. So, I let them do bb guns and climb trees and such. I just pray a lot! Here's a video of something that is turning my hair gray. I find myself holding my breath while I watch them. I love seeing them glow when they manage to start the bike by themselves or when they hop right back up after a minor crash. I hate the crashing! The laughter you hear in the background is my FIL. I think he's having as much fun watching as the boys are riding!

Two Weeks Old

2008-08-19T16:21:00.000-04:00

Finally....I'm learning

2008-08-15T21:49:00.000-04:00

The boys and I went to my Grandparents today. They have blackberries coming out of their ears. So, we came home with some, also a few raspberries. I made this. It was fantastic.

I finally got a little smarter than the birds today. I put their waterer up on a bowl. It's staying much cleaner now. What's funny is look at the chick peeking around at Rooster. She looks like she's sayin', "Hey, whatcha doin' ?"

Funny Birds

2008-08-13T17:48:00.000-04:00

Today we had to go to town. I was a little worried about the chicks getting out while we were gone. See, they've taken to trying to fly around in their brooder and I just had this feeling if I left them alone, welll, I thought they might make a break for it. So, I was trying to figure out what to put on top of the brooder when I happened to look over at my laundry room window and I thought, Hey maybe that screen would work. And sure enough it was long enough, a little too wide but that wasn't a problem. So, I put in on there and went to town. We returned to 15 safe chickies in the brooder. I took the screen off and went over to the washtub sink to do something, when I turned around there was a pretty little girl sitting on top of the waterer. Whaaaaa???!!! No picture, sorry, my camera wasn't near and no way was I leaving her up there. Soooo, I'm so glad I listened to my instincts and imprisoned them, I mean made them safe before I left.

Here's a video of me hand feeding them. They are such funny little birds.

A full day.

2008-08-11T22:33:00.001-04:00

Today was a full day. I took care of the chicks, both boys are home and one is feeling puny, I made pickles today, I made a clothespin apron today, I did laundry and took the non puny boy over to Grandma and Grandpa's to practice his swimming. Oh, yeah and there was that burial thing. Trying to overlook that. Supper, etc. I'm done for today. ;0)

RIP Tiny

2008-08-11T16:03:00.000-04:00

We lost a chick today. I had noticed she was smaller than all the rest. Then I started noticing she was sleeping a lot, not eating or drinking. I moved her into the Chick ICU(an ice cream bucket in the brooder). It was just slowly going down hill, I emailed a wise chicken lady, who has been giving me advice and info on this road to chickendom. She gave me the sad news that Tiny was more than likely not going to make it. Around 3:00 today she passed. She was a good little chick. I hope we made her as comfortable as possible while she was with us.

Day 4

2008-08-09T14:56:00.000-04:00

K, they are changing way too fast! This morning I went in and I saw the rooster flapping his wings and trying to herd them all to the other side of the brooder. Then a hen stretched up and bumped his chest. Is she challenging him? Also, their little wings are starting to be more pronounced. less baby chick fuzz on them. Here's a pic or two, so you can see what I mean.

They just make my heart happy!

2008-08-08T19:25:00.000-04:00

So, Day 3 has been good. I'm feeling a little more relaxed and the chicks are doing well. It's so funny to watch them. They run frantically whenever you loom over the brooder but come running when I put my hand down in with food in it. They hop right up in my hand and eat away. Everyone that is except for Rooster. He is not having it. He is on guard. Is it possible that he's already playing his role? Yesterday we had him out then put him back and took a chick. He sure raised a ruckus. How did he know or was it just a coincidence? I stand or sit and just watch them and am purely amazed that they are here, that I finally have them after wishing and wanting for two years. After pick, pick, picking at my DH. I can't wait to see them grow.

Peep Peep Peep

2008-08-07T20:14:00.000-04:00

Day 2 of chicks is going fine. Finally found a chick waterer this AM! Had to wipe a butt! It's all going well except it seems difficult to keep a constant temp. So, I closed off all the air vents near the laundry room and in it. Hopefully that helps. Also, G and I started painting the coop. It looks great, so far.

Oh Happy Day!

2008-08-06T08:35:00.000-04:00

My babies arrived this AM. I got the call at 5:58, two minutes before my alarm went off. Only one casualty, I knew the minute I picked up the box. Death has a distinct smell. Sooo, hopefully 15 healthy girls and 1 healthy, nice-non aggressive(crossing my fingers and praying really hard)boy. LOL They are all drinking, eating, pottying and napping. So far so good!

Coop Progress Update: Doors, Windows, Roosts

2008-07-28T19:43:00.000-04:00

Windows can now be kept open.

Chicken door closed. It will slide open and that part hanging past the coop will be outside the chicken yard.

Chicken door in open position.

Future roosts!

See those hinges? Those make this panel on the backside of the coop flip up. Why do you ask? So, I can sweep out the coop of course. G is checking out the chicken door on the north side of the coop. That's for chicken tractor access.

Hey, look we already have a rooster! Oops, that's just G, he's growing out his summer haircut.

Coop Progress Update: Nests

2008-07-28T19:31:00.000-04:00

Outside nest access, one door is on, waiting on more hinges.

Six nests, three on top with roost bar.

OOOHHH MMMYYY GGGOOODDDNNNEEESSS!

2008-07-22T11:35:00.000-04:00

I ORDERED MY CHICKS TODAY!!!!!!! I'm soooooo excited. On August 6th I become a chick mama. I can't wait, but I have to wait. :0( It seems so far away. Plenty of time to finish the coop and make a chicken tractor, right? My guess is, no. It will be here before I know it, I'm sure.

Busy Bees Post #2

2008-07-05T19:02:00.000-04:00

The Coop is coming along.

Windows went in today. We acquired these from some friends of my Step Mom. FOR FREE! We will be putting hardware cloth in there to keep my girls safe.

These will also have hardware cloth.

A view from the inside.

The other side.

Still lots to finish. Nest boxes, roosts, food and water station. As well as, the yard and a chicken tractor. And then the most exciting part....The actual chickens. Yeah, that would be good to have those.

Busy Bees Post #1

2008-07-05T18:28:00.000-04:00

Making the most of the holiday weekend.

Hmmm, what's he up to?
Still digging!
That's odd, what's that for?

There he goes digging again.

Aha! My clothesline. Now I just need the actual clothesline. LOL He, of course, bought something different then what we talked about. I said "Nope"!

Hey what's that? She's not part of this post on a clothesline. That's my girl, Butter. See how she's smiling up at me? That's cause she loves me best!

Calling all Chick Mama's

2008-07-04T10:15:00.000-04:00

Okay, Ladies I need help. Most of the Hatcheries will only let you place a 25 chick minimum order. What do I do? I really don't want 25 to start out with. Any ideas?

I could check with my Uncle and see if he wants some or knows someone who will take them, I guess. That's one idea.

She's Late To The Party!

2008-07-04T10:06:00.000-04:00

But boy is she worth the wait!

Lillies Abound!

2008-07-03T17:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my good friend Frugalmom, the lillies abound in my flower beds this year. So, this photo montage goes out to her. She'll be getting some back this fall and her beds will be beautiful next year. And much more organized than mine!

Llama Love

2008-06-21T16:01:00.000-04:00

Recently my friend Frugalmom mentioned she's got some llama love. Soooo, today I got to experience some llama's up close and personal. They were definitely more calm then the alpacas. And they for sure let you know when you are making them uncomfortable. I think I'm going to have to take our boys for a visit soon. They also had a few other animals: Silky chickens, a Guinea pig, a french lop rabbit to name a few.

They had demonstrations on spinning, dying, wet felting and needle felting the llama fibers. Way fun!

This is Sunny, a male llama, he was the friendliest. I think being a little older he was more used to people. He's for sale if you are interested. $500, I think.

They let us watch them shear Sunny. He was pretty cooperative, he seemed a little ticklish in some spots. LOL

This is Astra, she's saying I'm not sure about you, leave me alone!

If you're interested she's also for sale. $350

This is also Astra, she's saying I'm thinking you might be alright!

This is a young alpaca, there were three of them in the pen, this one was the friendliest and you still pretty much couldn't touch her with

out her making a warning noise. BTW, I say she but I really didn't notice the gender.

No turning back now

2008-06-03T21:10:00.000-04:00

This is our youngest with a new to us piece of furniture. My Aunt gifted us a piano. She knows the desire that was already there for me is intensified by this instrument setting in my family room. So, she's soon to get at least one new to her student in exchange. The boy decided to pull his recliner up to the piano since there's no stool. I believe he's interested as well in learning how to play. I'm just not sure if he will actually want to put in the time to practice, etc.

Seed Swap Swag

2008-06-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

I recently did a seed swap over at Down to Earth My swap buddy was in New Mexico and she sent me an assortment of seeds, as well as, a nice piece of material for me to make something with. It was great fun and now I'll have plants in my gardens to always remember my New Mexico buddy. Plus all the seeds are heirloom, so I will be able to continue saving the seeds and passing them on. What a great thing!

Chicken Doors?

2008-05-25T14:17:00.000-04:00

K, We have a roof on, sorry no pics yet. We have started discussing the windows and ventilation. For those of you who don't know, my husband is an engineer. Nuff said? It has been a long process designing this coop. Does anyone out there have any advice on coop windows, ventilation and chicken doors? Anything you've done, anything you wish you would have done, anything you would change, anything you've seen that you thought was totally cool? Please advise.

Failure To Launch

2008-05-20T08:23:00.000-04:00

Once again the eggs have failed to hatch. Could it be inconsistent temps, or maybe the rooster just lost his juice? Who knows! It's okay, it's all good. My uncle tried and would probably keep on trying but I think I'm just going to order me some chicks. So, now I'm trying to decide how many and what kind. Any thoughts?

Hair

2008-05-15T20:41:00.001-04:00

Well, I decided to cut it. I love it! Picture one is straightened and picture two is au naturale.

A Big Box

2008-05-10T21:04:00.000-04:00

What a gorgeous day. No rain until around 7pm. So, this happened.

No progress

2008-05-08T08:05:00.000-04:00

No progress on the coop. It's been raining here all week pretty much. It's supposed to clear up by Saturday. Sooo, hopefully we will be able to work on it more then.

As much as I want it to be dry for the coop build, I love the rain this time of year. Everything is in technicolor. All the spring colors seem brighter with the rain. The grass and the leaves are a beautiful shade of green. The dead leaves and soil radiate a special kind of brown. My little purple iris' simply glow their color. It's just gorgeous!